Post-doctoral position - Recruitment No 76/2026 in Warsaw

Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences

Organisation/Company Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences Department Team 3, ICTER International Centre for Translational Eye Research Research Field Engineering » Biomedical engineering Physics » Optics Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Positions Postdoc Positions Application Deadline 25 Nov 2026 - 12:00 (Europe/Warsaw) Country Poland Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 40 Offer Starting Date 8 Dec 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number 76/2026 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description Post-doc position available in the Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS within National Science Center (NSC) MAESTRO 16. Project no 2024/54/A/ST7/00379 entitled ,,Optical measurements of retinal neuronal responses”.

Humans are one of the most advanced and complex biological systems on Earth. We have computational capabilities that are designed toprocess millions of tasks in parallel, allowing the entire body to function under extremely variableconditions. Our organ of vision - the eye - has evolved millions of years into one of the most advanced systems for imaging and analysing visual data. The eye also houses the most easilyaccessible part of the brain's neuronal network - the human retina - an organ readily accessible torelatively compact and non-invasive optical methods. Our organ of vision has well-defined inputsin the form of an array of millions of photoreceptors and outputs in the form of nerve fibresconnecting the eye to the brain. Each nerve fibre is connected to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs),which are distinct nodes that collect information processed by the retina from specific, ratherspatially restricted, groups of photoreceptors (receptive fields). In addition, the structure andfunction of retinal neuronal circuits are fairly well understood, and optical methods already makeit possible to observe neuronal activity during photoreceptor stimulation in genetically modifiedanimals. These methods, with further developments, could effectively provide the necessaryinterface between the computer and the neural network of the human retina in vivo – without introducing additional modifications to our organisms. Such an interface could, in turn, bedeveloped into an autonomous communication system with our brain that would perform the initialcomputational tasks already at the retinal level. However, as a first step, a fundamental questionneeds to be answered: is it possible to acquire information about the functional state of theretina for the inputs and outputs of its neuronal circuitry using non-invasive optical methods?This question is the leitmotif and the basis for the research hypothesis in this project

Requirements Research Field Engineering » Biomedical engineering Education Level PhD or equivalent

Research Field Physics » Optics Education Level PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Design and construct an experimental set-up with polarization diverse detection to test the pdORG idea- Test pdORG experimental set-up on phantoms and cell cultures - Make a pdORG experimental set-up for human measurements with retinal stimulating light insertion - Perform initial measurements on volunteers- Carry out ergonomisation of systems

PhD degree in chemical or physical sciences, optics, optical engineering obtained in the year of employment in the project or within 7 years before 1 January of the year of employment in the project. For researchers with multiple PhDs, the date of the first PhD award is deemed the reference date. Extension might apply according to National Science Centre, Poland, rules. Publication record and experience in research.Ability to work independently as well as in a group.Knowledge of of neurobiology of eye, biomedical engineering, optical physics or optical engineering.

Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent

Research Field Engineering » Biomedical engineeringPhysics » Optics Years of Research Experience 4 - 10

Additional Information We offer a post-doctoral position (full-time employment) in the Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS with a gross salary of Around 12 400 PLN grossper month financed from the NCN MAESTRO 16. Project no 2024/54/A/ST7/00379 entitled ,,Optical measurements of retinal neuronal responses”. 100% of the work time of Postdoc will be devoted to the realization of the proposed project. The offer is for 12 months with a possible extension

We offer work in a young, dynamically developing team with modern research infrastructure. Funds are allocated to cover participation in international conferences and forshort visits in collaborating laboratory. We plan to publishthe results of the work in high impact factor journals.The successful candidate will be eligible for all programs at the IPC PAS, including the IPC PAS Young Scientists competition and the IPC PAS Young Scientists Mobility competition.Institute provides an opportunity to participate in ERASMUS+ programme.

Eligibility criteria

The successful candidate for the postdoctoral position shall, for the full term of their employment within the project, be obligated to maintain compliance with the following conditions:- their PhD degree has been awarded by another institution than the one planned to employ them at this post or they have completed a continuous and evidenced post-doctoral fellowship of at least 10 months in another institution than the host institution for the project and in another country than the one in which they have been conferred a PhD degree- when the remuneration is paid, they will be receiving no remuneration from the funds allocated as direct costs under research projects funded in NCN calls;- when the remuneration is paid, they will be receiving no remuneration from another employer pursuant to an employment contract, including an employer with registered office outside of Poland; and- when the remuneration is paid, they will be receiving no pension under the https://icter.pl/pl/ social insurance scheme.

A post-doc type post is a full-time post, scheduled by the project’s principal investigator for a person who has been conferred a PhD degree in the year of employment in the project or within 7 years before 1 January of the year of employment in the project. For researchers with multiple PhDs, the date of the first PhD award is deemed the reference date. This period may be extended by a time of long-term (in excess of 90 days) documented sick leaves or rehabilitation leaves granted on account of being unfit to work. In addition, the period may be extended by the number of months of a childcare leave granted pursuant to the Labour Code and in the case of women, by 18 months for every child born or adopted, whichever manner of accounting for career breaks is preferable.

Selection process The Recruitment Commission will take into account the following criteria:- competencies for specific tasks in the research project- knowledge of neurobiology of eye, biomedical engineering, optical physics or optical engineering- previous scientific achievementsawards and distinctions resulting from the conducted research

Appeals should be sent to the following email address: dzgran@ichf.edu.pl.If the top candidate does not sign the contract due to the resignation, we reserve the right to choose the next candidate from the ranking list.

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Work Location(s) Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute Institute of Physical Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences Country Poland City Warsaw Postal Code 01-224 Street Kasprzaka 44/52 Geofield